What was your first grill or smoker?

my first grill was a cheep offset from target. my girlfriend just bought a house and we talked about getting a grill. I was thinking a gas grill, had no clue about charcoal. She went one day to get some shoes and women things for her self then called me to tell me to pick up some nice NY strips for that night because she bought a grill. I get home, the grill was in the box because it needed put together and I did not see a propane tank. I put it together, went and got some match light charcoal to cook the stakes. They cooked ok other then the over char and under cooked middle. That night I looked on line to find tips how to cook on charcoal, that is when I found this sight. Now I have 4 Webers, a 120gallon RF on a trailer and a MINI UDS, and building a MED UDS. The cheep offset lived a good life but is ready for the scrape pile.
 
my first was a Chargriller offset which i still use for small cooks.. and grilling.. second was a Landman cheap offset that i still use also. Latest is the Homemade in the AVI.. its my first born.. lol Use it almost every weekend too.. Smaller grills get used throughout the week..
 
Not mine but one like this. Circa 1970
hibatchi.jpg

Back then these were actually cast iron with a decent vent door. Usually there were posts to set grill level. I sure wish they made them like that today. Now they are made with sheet metal.

I have the Lodge "Hibachi", and it's a good for what it is, but too pricey. Wind plays havoc with it also, as the grate is over an inch above the body.
 
My first one was chargriller w/o the sfb. I would put charcoal on one side and do indirect. Then a friend of mine bought a monster that was custom made it had THREE 275 gal tanks on it. That's really when I learned to do large volume smoking.
 
My first Grill was a 16" truck split rim with a piece of expanded metal on top,cooked many a steak burger and dogs on it. My first Smoker was a Tx Hibachi and it served as a grill too you name it it probably got cooked on it. The X bought me an Old Smokey like 26 yrs ago so I guess you could say it was my first store bought cooker.

I still keep a truck tire rim and a 40"X20" grill grate for camping, hunting, and fishing. I've cooked 100s of meals on mine.
I used to use a large Weber grate on mine but after dumping everything in the fire, I copied a grate in Cowgirl's blog.
Everyone who see's one of these wants one.
 
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My first smoker was a Brinkman propane smoker. Looks like their charcoal model, but has tall legs and lava rocks on the bottom. I purchased it at Costco many moons ago and have eaten rubbery skin turkeys to under cooked prime rib for my family. Fortunately they were good sports and told me how good it tasted. I still have this rusted unit in my backyard as a reminder of the good old days.
 
18.5" wsm, first cook was an 8lbs Boston butt for pulled pork. Woke up at 5am in the morning to prep the smoker and set up the minion method, started a chimney and sat back drinking coffee and watching the sun come up, when chimney was ready, threw the coals on and just let her ride the entire time up to 195/200 degrees IT without lifting the lid. Been hooked ever since. Will always keep her but got an upgrade in the works now.
 
my first grill was one of those round flat ones with the folding legs and the grate was supported in the middle with a rod that you could move up and down to adjust the grate.

took that thing everywhere.

About 1970 vintage
 
First grill for me, that I bought, was a 1998 Performer. I made some good food and some really bad food. After I found this place not only do I get better results more consistently but my collection has grown as well. I still use the Performer, know as Mr. Green Jeans several times a week.
 
my first grill was one of those round flat ones with the folding legs and the grate was supported in the middle with a rod that you could move up and down to adjust the grate.

took that thing everywhere.

About 1970 vintage

Wow! I remember those! Lol!
 
Oh I had a cast iron hibatchi and then a gasser that I never really cared for, then about 20 years ago my (then) wife surprised me on fathers day with a New Braunfels Bandera which I have modified to death and still have. Then drum smokers.
 
Had a Char-Broil 2-burner gasser, a gift from a friend for helping him move (and he couldn't take it to his new apartment.) After a year or so of burning burgers & steaks on it, I gave it to another friend as a good faith gesture. My wife & daughters gave me a Weber kettle on Father's Day about six years ago and I still have it and cook on it every now & then, even thought I have other cookers that I use more often. Don't want it to get lonely or feel neglected. :wink:
 
My first outdoor cooking device would have been an 18.5" OTS that I bought after buying my house. Not sure what happened to it, but I don't have it anymore.

My first smoker was a Brinkman Cimmaron offset that I still have and will always have. My dad gave it to me for Christmas in 98 I think.

From there my collection has exploded. I have more grills and smokers than I could ever realistically cook on.
 
From there my collection has exploded. I have more grills and smokers than I could ever realistically cook on.

Clark's museum provides tours twice daily M-F and three times Saturday. Closed Sundays.
 
My first grill was a Weber 18.5" kettle and my first smoker was a 18.5" WSM.
 
I killed many a cow and pig and forced my young kids to endure some bad hamburgers and hot dogs. I went through about 13 different gas/coal grills over 20 years.

Then I remembered what my Dad said (God rest his soul). "It's the section between the rod handle and the boat seat that counts boy!" Started to get it together at that point with BBQ and life in general.

GREAT POST!!!!!!...on many levels!!.....I have been around the block with different cookers and smokers.......now i've got my stickburner (Caveman Grunt!!) and hurricane Katrina salvaged weber kettle.....as the Allman Brothers once sang "back where it all began...."
 
My first purchased was a cast aluminum Portable Kitchen grill, I think I got it about 1967. Wish I still had it. I think it was about $40, a lot of money for me back then.
 

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